Demountable paneling system

ABSTRACT

A demountable and remountable wall assembly for partitioning room space between an overhead and a floor, the major elements of which are reusable. The assembly provides one or two walls, at lease one of which has an outer fastener-free surface. Additionally, the fastener-free surface may be made substantially smooth and seamless. The walls are arranged in planar congruence, separated by internal spacers or studs, and vertically positioned between the overhead and floor of the room space to be partitioned. Removable tracks or spacers at the top and bottom of the wall assembly serves to interface the wall assembly with the floor and ceiling of the space. The walls are constructed of either finished or unfinished wall panels (e.g., fabric covered or sheet rock panels) which are incorporated into the assembly using a combination of removable fasteners and releasable adhesives. The finished or exposed area of a wall surface includes no fasteners. Any fasteners used to fix a wall panel in place is covered by a removable trim or other removable feature, which make the fasteners readily exposable and easy to remove.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/533,253, filed Sep. 19, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,451,577, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/652,648, filed Aug.31, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,197,853, which are herein incorporated byreference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is in the field of building and facility walls andceiling systems and associated architectural elements. Moreparticularly, the present invention is in the field of wall and ceilingpartitions having architectural elements which are demountable andreusable, and that have a seamless surface between the architecturalelements when the wall and ceiling partitions are in place.

2. Description of the Related Art

A variety of removable and reusable wall systems are available for usein partitioning a building's interior space. The prior known wallsystems each attempt to embody a subset of the overall objects andadvantages that the industry seeks in such assemblies, often for aspecific building application. The structure of such assemblies rangefrom floor-to-ceiling full height wall partitions tomodular-office-cubical-type panel assemblies having partial heightwalls.

Removable, full height wall partition assemblies are often referred toas “demountable” wall systems. Examples of such systems include thedemountable wall systems of Allison (U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,434) and Morenoet al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,859). Current demountable wall systems aredesigned separately from the buildings they are used in, and areincorporated separately into the interior space of the building as anaccessory, after the building is completed.

Many limitations may be found in prior art demountable wall systems. Thecomponent parts of which are inherently sophisticated, complex, andintricate. They require custom prefabrication ofprocessed-raw-material-stock. They require elaborate warehousing,stocking, inventorying of numerous parts many of which become obsoleteover time. Each manufacturer must train and then maintain specialtycrews in every major city in order to site assemble, disassemble, andreassemble their particular and unique demountable wall and system.Prior art demountable walls must create specialized custom doors,windows, door and window hardware, electrical, voice and data, plumbing,and the like which together dictate a complex problem prone system. Allof the prior art systems have dimensional limitations of height andrestricted flexibility in length due to prefabrication. Once a height isselected to fit a certain building it is often not usable in anotherbuilding because of seemingly minor differences in height or most oftenin the degree of slope of the floors which the naked eye perceives aslevel but the demountable wall panels can not tolerate. Prior art wallsystem manufacturers attempt to overcome this limitation by adding morevariety of product sizes which actually magnifies the above limitationsbecause it magnifies the problems associated with complexity,inventorying, obsolesce, assembly crew training, and ever increasingcosts associated with these limitations. The cost of prior artdemountable wall systems is very high ($80 to $200 per lineal foot plusaccessories compared to standard fixed wall cost of about $22 per linealfoot) and therefore the use of prior art demountable walls is not widespread. If there were a wide spread use of demountable walls the impacton our environment and non-renewal resources would be very positivebecause the standard fixed walls do not accommodate reconfiguration.Therefore the standard fixed walls must be demolished and sent tospecial toxic waste landfills (decomposing gypsum releases a toxic gas)and new walls must be constructed using more of our non-renewal naturalresources.

Another limitation of prior art demountable wall and ceiling systems isthe resulting seams and gaps that occur between the component panelsthat make up the walls and ceiling. Architects and designers objectstrongly to these aesthetically unacceptable and often imbalancedsectioning of the architecture. Prior art demountable walls are limitedto interior use, few, if any, are fire rated nor are they load bearing.

Since commercial buildings, particularly office buildings are oftenremodeled to accommodate changing space requirements, tenancy, anddesign tastes, it would be advantageous to have an interior and exteriorspace partitioning system which allows disassembly and ready reassemblyand thus permits the general reuse of the elements of the system. Thispermits savings in material and downtime. It would be beneficial to havea demountable wall system that allowed the removal, reuse, andrelocation of wall system elements, including not only wall panels andstuds but also electrical and plumbing elements and door and windowelements. The availability of a wall system embodying such recyclableelements would reduce waste and the cost of altering a building's space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a feature of the present invention that it provides a wall andceiling system which permits the general reuse of the elements of thesystem, thereby reducing material wastes and the cost of altering abuilding's space. The present invention overcomes most if not all of theaforementioned limitations to the prior art. Additional features andadvantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the descriptionwhich follows, and in part will become apparent from the description, ormay be learned by practice of the invention. The features and advantagesof the invention may be realized by practicing the combinations andsteps described herein and particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

To achieve the foregoing features and advantages and in accordance withthe purpose of the present invention as embodied and broadly describedherein, the present invention is a non-load bearing wall partitionsystem, the elements of which are demountable and reusable, and whichmay be assembled or reassembled using recyclable elements to provide afastener-free surface, and may be finished to further provide a seamlessas well as fastener-free surface.

More specifically, the present invention is a demountable wall assemblyfor partitioning room space between an overhead and a floor comprisingwall surfaces that are fastener-free and which may be smooth andseamless when erected, and the structural elements of which are reusableafter demounting. The wall assembly has two walls arranged in planarcongruence and separated by spacers, which defines an inner wall spaceenclosed between the interior surfaces of the walls. This configurationalso provides at least one exterior wall surface, which is afastener-free wall surface, and may provide a second exterior wallsurface which may or may not be fastener free. The surfaces arevertically positioned between and interface with the overhead (ceiling)and floor of the space to be partitioned. The fastener-free wall surfacewall is made up of at least one removable wall panel. A wall panel maybe sheet rock or some other type of panel suitable for use as a wall.The interior space formed between the two exterior walls may provide aspace for the drop of modularized electrical, phone, and data lines atappropriate places throughout the interior space serviced by thedemountable wall system.

A top spacer (variously called a header track, top plate, top sill,etc.) at the top of the wall assembly provides an interface between theoverhead and other wall elements, e.g., internal spacers and wallpanels. Similarly, a bottom spacer at the bottom of the wall assembly(variously called a bottom plate, bottom sill, etc.) provides aninterface between the floor and other wall elements. The top spacer andbottom spacer are removably fixed to the overhead and floor respectivelyusing any of a number of removable fasteners and releasable adhesivesknown to the ordinarily skilled artisan. Therefore, in the practice ofthe present invention, after being fixed in place, the top bottomspacers are removable and reusable. Similarly, top spacers and bottomspacers are removably fixed to the other wall elements using any of anumber of removable fasteners and releasable adhesives known to theordinarily skilled artisan. In those applications where removablefasteners are not to be used to long-term mount the other wall elementsto the top or bottom spacer, or to each other, releasable adhesives maybe substituted. As may be readily apparent, the mounting and demountingof the wall's various elements, (including top and bottom spacers,internal spacers, wall panels, trim, junction boxes, wiring, etc.) doesnot substantially impact their suitability for reuse.

A feature of the wall assembly of the present invention is an interiorspacer which interfaces with the interior surfaces of the two walls andprovides rigidity and support to the expanse of the wall, or anattachment interface at the perimeter edge of adjacent wall elements(panels). Interior wall spacers may run vertically, horizontally, or inany orientation required to accomplish their purpose. Internal spacerssuitable for use in the wall assembly of the present invention includesany of the variety of wall studs typical of the building trades, andtypically having a width of about 2.5 inches, and including a wooden27W, or a removable head track and similar lumber and hardware.

A further feature of the present wall assembly is that the exteriorsurface of at least one of the walls is a fastener-free wall surface. Afastener-free wall surface is an exterior wall surface that has nofasteners in the exposed (i.e., not covered by trim or molding) surfaceof the wall. The second wall of the present invention may be a wall witha fastener-free exterior surface, an unfinished structural (bearing)wall or the like. In the typical practice of the present invention awall having a fastener-free surface comprises a plurality of removablewall panels juxtapositioned at a perimeter edge to form a planarsurface. An aspect of the fastener-free wall surface feature of thepresent invention is that the joint between the juxtapositioned paneledges may be treated as described herein to render the fastener-freesurface also substantially smooth and seamless. Specifically, the jointsmay be filled with a releasable caulk or covered with a removable tapeto provide a fastener-free surface that is substantially smooth whenfinished, and the caulk or tape being removable without substantialdamage to the integrity of the wall panel. This permits the wall panelsto be reused.

Unused wall panels may be inventoried and stored between redesigned wallsystems providing further sound-deadening between the partitions andfurther structural support to the top and bottom spacers and the wallsystem generally. Alternatively, previously used wall panels may bemoved to other sites for reinstallation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the instant specification, illustrate various preferredembodiments of the invention and together with the general descriptionof the invention given above and the detailed description of thepreferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles ofthe invention.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the wall systemof the present invention with the supports or studs at the panel edgeincluding an invisible seam and bottom track.

FIG. 1A is a plan view cross section of the seam in FIG. 1 illustratinga methodology of the present invention in concealing and securing theseams between panels in the wall system.

FIG. 1B is a flow chart describing the wall of the present invention asillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 1C is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the wall systemof the present invention using releasable adhesive with the supports orstuds at the panel edge including an invisible seam and bottom track.

FIG. 1D is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the wall systemof the present invention with the supports or studs at the panel edgeincluding an invisible seam.

FIG. 2 is another embodiment of the wall system of the present inventionwhere the releasable adhesive is used at the intermediate supports orstuds.

FIG. 2A is a plan view cross section of the seam illustrated in FIG. 2showing the methodology of securing the seams between panels in a wallsystem.

FIG. 2B is a flow chart describing the wall of the present invention asillustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2C is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the wall systemof the present invention using releasable adhesive with the supports orstuds at the panel edge including an invisible seam and bottom track.

FIG. 2D is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the wall systemof the present invention with the supports or studs at the panel edgeincluding an invisible seam.

FIG. 3 illustrates yet another preferred embodiment of the wall systemof the present invention where zip tape is used at intermediate supportsor studs.

FIG. 3A is a plan view cross section of the seam illustrated in FIG. 3showing the methodology of securing the seams between panels in a wallsystem.

FIG. 3B is a flow chart describing the wall system illustrated in FIG. 3where the support or stud is not at the panel edges and the panel issecured at the extremities by long term fasteners.

FIG. 3C is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the wall systemof the present invention using releasable adhesive with the supports orstuds at the panel edge including an invisible seam and bottom track.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of yet another preferred wall system of thepresent invention where a removable substance is at the panel edgesupports or studs to form an invisible seam.

FIG. 4A is a plan view cross-section illustration of the seam betweentwo panels as illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4B is a flow chart of the wall system of the present invention asillustrated in FIG. 4 where the support or stud is at the panel edgesand the seam is made invisible by the removable substance.

FIG. 4C is a flow chart of the wall system of the present invention asillustrated in FIG. 4 where the support or stud is not at the paneledges.

FIG. 4D is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the wall systemof the present invention using releasable adhesive with the supports orstuds at the panel edge including an invisible seam and a bottom track.

FIG. 5 is yet another preferred embodiment of a wall system of thepresent invention where releasable adhesive is used at the panel edgesupports or studs.

FIG. 5A is a perspective, cross section of the seam associated with thetwo abutting panels as illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 5B is a flow chart of the wall system of the present invention asillustrated in FIG. 5 where the support or stud is at the panel edgesand the seam is visible.

FIG. 5C is a flow chart of the wall system of the present invention asillustrated in FIG. 5 where the support or stud is not at the paneledges.

FIG. 5D is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the wall systemof the present invention using releasable adhesive with the supports orstuds at the panel edge including an invisible seam and bottom track.

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross section of a wall system of the presentinvention with a wall panel removably engaged with a removable floor orbottom track and a removable head track.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart for a method of assembling a paneling system.

FIG. 8 is a partial cutaway of an upper proportion of the wall system ofthe present invention illustrating a head track in association with thewall panels.

FIG. 9 illustrates a partial section of a lower portion of the wallsystem of the present invention with a removable bottom track inassociation with the wall panels.

FIG. 10 illustrates yet another embodiment of a wall system of thepresent invention showing a partial cross-section of a wall panel inassociation with a removable bottom track.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a tri-channel head track for use inassociation with the wall system of the present invention.

FIG. 11A is an illustration of the tri-channel head track for use inassociation with the wall system of the present invention as illustratedin FIG. 11 having an unfeathered extension and releasable adhesive.

FIG. 11B is an illustration of the tri-channel head track for use inassociation with the wall system of the present invention as illustratedin FIG. 11 having a feathered extension and releasable adhesive.

FIG. 12 is a sectional illustration of a tri-channel bottom track usedin association with the wall system of the present invention having anenclosed data channel.

FIG. 12A is a sectional illustration of a tri-channel bottom track usedin association with the wall system of the present invention having anenclosed data channel and using removable adhesive.

FIG. 13 is sectional view of a quad-channel bottom track used with thewall system of the present invention having a slotted data channel.

FIG. 13A is a sectional illustration of a tri-channel bottom track usedin association with the wall system of the present invention having anenclosed data channel and using removable adhesive.

FIG. 14 is yet another embodiment of the tri-channel bottom track foruse with the wall system of the present invention having a slotted datachannel for receiving the studs.

FIG. 14A is a sectional illustration of a tri-channel bottom track usedin association with the wall system of the present invention having anenclosed data channel and using removable adhesive.

FIG. 15 is a sectional illustration of another tri-channel bottom trackused in association with the wall system of the present invention havingan enclosed data channel.

FIG. 15A is a sectional illustration of another tri-channel bottom trackused in association with the wall system of the present invention havingan enclosed data channel as illustrated in FIG. 15 and having anunfeathered extension and releasable adhesive.

FIG. 15B is a sectional illustration of another tri-channel bottom trackused in association with the wall system of the present invention havingan enclosed data channel as illustrated in FIG. 15 and having afeathered extension and releasable adhesive.

FIG. 16 is yet another embodiment of the tri-channel bottom track foruse with the wall system of the present invention having a slotted datachannel for receiving the studs.

FIG. 16A is a sectional illustration of another tri-channel bottom trackused in association with the wall system of the present invention havingan enclosed data channel as illustrated in FIG. 16 and having anunfeathered extension and releasable adhesive.

FIG. 17 illustrates a cross section of a wall system of the presentinvention with a wall panel removably engaged with removable electricaland plumbing fixtures.

FIG. 18 is a sectional illustration of a tri-channel bottom track usedin association with the wall system of the present invention havingelements that are bendable metal.

FIG. 19 is a sectional illustration of another embodiment of atri-channel bottom track used in association with the wall system of thepresent invention having elements that are bendable metal.

FIG. 20 is a sectional illustration of yet another embodiment of atri-channel bottom track used in association with the wall system of thepresent invention having elements that are bendable metal.

FIG. 21A is a sectional illustration of a channeled bottom track used inassociation with the wall system of the present invention having a datachannel.

FIG. 21AA is a sectional illustration of another channeled bottom trackused in association with the wall system of the present invention havinga data channel.

FIG. 21AAA is a sectional illustration of yet another channeled bottomtrack used in association with the wall system of the present inventionhaving a data channel.

FIG. 21B is a sectional illustration of another channeled bottom trackused in association with a load-bearing wall system of the presentinvention having a data channel.

FIG. 22A is a sectional illustration of another channeled bottom trackused in association with a wall system of the present invention having adata channel.

FIG. 22AA is a sectional illustration of an alternate embodiment of theone piece base track with a raised channel-seat for the stud.

FIG. 22B is a sectional illustration of another channeled bottom trackused in association with a wall system of the present invention having adata channel.

FIG. 22C is a sectional illustration of another channeled bottom trackused in association with a load-bearing wall system of the presentinvention having a data channel.

FIG. 23 illustrates a one-piece head track for use with one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 24 illustrates a prior art wall assembly.

FIG. 24A is a plan view cross section of the seam illustrating the priorart methodology in concealing and securing the seam between the panelsin a conventional wall.

FIG. 24B is a flow chart describing a prior art wall as illustrated inFIG. 24 and FIG. 24A.

FIG. 24C is a flow chart describing a prior art wall as illustrated inFIG. 24.

The above general description and the following detailed description aremerely illustrative of the generic invention, and system of the presentinvention having elements that are bendable metal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferredembodiments of the invention as described in the accompanying drawings.

PRIOR ART: FIG. 24 illustrates a prior art wall assembly P00. The priorart wall assembly P00 comprises both sides of one or more panels P02,one or more studs P20, a top track P23, a bottom track P22, a mudcompound P05, a porous paper P10, “floating” mud compound P12, a smoothsurface P14 which has been sanded and a plurality of non-removablefasteners P04. Typically, the prior art wall assembly P00 has a baseboard P30, a top track P23, and a bottom track P22. Typically, the studsP20 are aligned vertically using the top track P23 and the bottom trackP22. The panels P02 are affixed to the studs P20 using the non-removablefasteners P04. Typically, the panels are fixed to the top track P23 andthe bottom track P22 using the non-removable fasteners P04. Thenon-removable fasteners P04 can be screws, nails, staples, and the like.It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that many differentnon-removable fasteners P04 can be used in the manufacture of the priorart wall assembly P00. The fasteners P04 are non-removable because ofhow they are used. For example, typically, the fasteners P04 are used sothat they are covered with a mud compound P05, P13. Covering thefastener P04 with the mud compound P05, P13 makes accessing, finding,and removing the fasteners P04 not practical. Adjacent panels P02 form ajoint or seam P03 at, for example, a first stud P20A. The non-removablefasteners P04 are used to fixably secure the panels P02 to the firststud P20A. Similarly, a second stud P20C is used to securably affix thepanel P02 at its edge using the non-removable fasteners P04. Typically,there is at least one intermediate stud P20B between the first stud P20Aand the third stud P20C. The intermediate stud P20B is needed, forexample, to prevent the panel P02 from vibrating with normal buildinguse, such as for example, to control panel shape distortion where panelsP02 are wide and the opening and closing of doors, heating and airconditioning blowers turning on and off, etc. To prevent the panel P02from vibrating, a plurality of non-removable fasteners P04 affix thepanel P02 to the intermediate stud P20B.

Once the panels P02 are affixed to the stud P20A, the non-removablefasteners P04A and the seam P03A must be concealed to form a continuoussmooth wall P14A. The non-removable fasteners P04B affixed to theintermediate stud P20B are covered with the mud compound P13B or“floated” over. Thereafter, the float mud compound P13 is sanded smoothso that it provides a continuous smooth surface P14.

With respect to the studs P20A, P20C at the panel seams P03, a morelengthy process is required. The joint or seam P03A is filled with a mudcompound P05A. The mud compound P05A fills and hides the fastener P04Aheads. When the fastener P04A heads are filled with the mud compoundP05A removal is impractical, if not impossible. Also, the mud compoundP05A sticks to the panel P02 making reuse of the panel P02 impractical,if not impossible. Thereafter, a porous paper tape P10A is placed overthe mud compound P05A which also covers the non-removable fastenersP04A. A mud compound P12A is applied over or “floated” over the porouspaper tape P10A. The porous paper tape P10A helps to hold the panels P02together. The porous paper tape P10A and the mud compound P05A, P12Aadheres to or bonds with the panels P02. The porous paper tape P10Aprovides structural integrity to the mud compound P05A, P12. After themud compound P05A, P12 is sufficiently cured, a unitary bond with theporous paper tape P10A, the panel P02 of sheet rock, the fasteners P04Aand the mud compound P05A, P12A is formed. The mud compound P05A, P12Ahas a purpose of adhering to or bonding with the panels P02 and theporous paper tape P10A. Thereafter, the mud P05A, P12A is sanded to asmooth surface P14A. The smooth surface P14A provides that the seam P03Ais invisible. The mud compound P05A, P12A has another purpose which isto provide a surface that can be sanded to a floated smooth surface tomake the seam P03A invisible. Thereafter, a baseboard P30 is typicallyplaced over the extremity of the panels P02.

With respect to the intermediate stud P20B, the panel P02 is alsosecured by the non-removable fasteners P04B. Similarly, thenon-removable fasteners P04 can be nails, staples, or the like. It isunderstood by those skilled in the art that the non-removable fastenersP04 can not be easily accessed, found, or removed without damage to thepanel P02. The non-removable fasteners P04 are hidden under the coveringof the mud compound P13 and are impracticable, if not impossible, toremove.

In the prior art wall assembly P00, the long-term, non-removablefasteners P04 create holes in the panels P02. The holes created by thefasteners P04 are filled with or “floated” over with the mud compoundP05, P12, P13. The mud compound P05, P12, P13 hides the fastener P04screws and fills the holes and screw heads and adheres to the panel P02.The non-removable fasteners P04 are not easily accessed, found andremoved without damage to the panel P02. The mud compound P05, P12, P13cures to form a unitary bond with the porous paper tape P10, the panelP02 of sheet rock, the fasteners P04, and the mud compound P05, P12,P13, thereby inhibiting reuse of any of the components.

FIG. 24A is a plan view cross section of the seam P03A illustrating theprior art methodology in concealing and securing the seam P03 betweenthe panels P02 in a conventional wall P00. The panels P02 are abutted atthe seam P03A as illustrated in FIG. 24A. A base layer of mud compoundP05A is applied to the seam P03A. Thereafter, a porous tape P10A isapplied over the base layer of mud compound P05A. Thereafter, finish mudP12A is applied over the porous tape P10A. Thus, anything under theporous tape P10A is inaccessible and cannot be removed. The panels P02are joined so that the joint or seam P03A between the panels P02 isturned into a smooth surface P14A, and the abutting panels P02 form asingle, continuous unitary panel P02.

FIG. 24B is a flow chart describing a prior art wall P00 as illustratedin FIG. 24 and FIG. 24A. FIG. 24A defines the treatment of the seamP03A. FIG. 24B illustrates the prior art wall P00 where the supports orstuds P20A, P20C are at the panel P02 edges. The seam P03A is treated toform a continuous, unitary panel P02 having a smooth surface P14A. FIG.24B illustrates a prior art wall P00 where a stud P20 is at the panelP02, edge P03, and the seam P03A is rendered invisible.

FIG. 24C is a flow chart describing a prior art wall P00 as illustratedin FIG. 24. FIG. 24C defines the treatment of the supports or studs P20Bnot located at the edges of the panel P02. FIG. 24C illustrates theprior art wall P00 where the supports or studs P20B are located betweenthe panel P02, edges P03, and is treated to form a smooth surface P14.

FIG. 1: supports or studs 120 at the panel 102 edge and “zip” tape 110Aassists to form an invisible seam 114A. FIG. 1 is an illustration of apreferred embodiment of the wall system 100 of the present inventionwith the supports or studs 120 at the panel 102 edge and the zip tape110A assists to form an invisible seam 114A. The wall system 100provides an innovative wall 100 having a support or stud 120A at theedge of a panel 102 so as to form a seam 103A. The wall system 100 ofthe present invention is different from the prior art wall assemblies inthat the wall system 100 can be readily disassembled, relocated, andreassembled. The wall system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 has the primaryelements of one or more panels 102, a plurality of long-term removablefasteners 104, one or more studs 120, a bottom track 122, a “zip” tape110, and a tab 111 associated with the zip tape 110.

The zip tape 110 used in practicing the present invention may be, forexample, a releasable, removable self-adhering fiberglass mesh tape thathas a mesh porosity such that the screw heads are not filled withcompound 112. Also, the present invention optionally provides that thescrews 104 are treated to prevent the compound 112 from adhering to thescrews 104. The screws 104 can be treated before being used or afterbeing installed. For example, treatment of the screws 104 before use maybe by applying a Teflon® coat to the screw heads, or making the outersurface of the screws 104 of a non-sticking substance, or by making theentire screw 104 from a non-sticking substance. Further by example,treatment of the screws 104 after use may be by applying a spray Teflon®coat to the screw heads, or coating the outer surface of the screws 104with a non-sticking substance. The non-sticking substance can be in anyappropriate form, such as liquid, powder, etc. It can be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that various and sundry combinations of thescrews 104 and the non-sticking substances may be used depending on thesituation.

The wall system 100 of the present invention provides that the studs 120are engaged for support in the “floor” or bottom track 122 andoptionally in a “head” or top track 123, or the like. Optionally, thewall system 100 provides that a top track 123 or the like may not beattached to or reach the ceiling and likewise the bottom track 122 orthe like may not be attached to or reach the floor. It can beappreciated by those skilled in the art that the type of studs 120, toptrack 123, and bottom track 122 can be varied depending on the projectneed and requirements. The panels 102 are affixed to the studs 120 atthe panel edges to form a seam 103. The “long-term, removable” fasteners104 are used to secure the adjacent panels 102 to the studs 120A, 120C.The long-term, removable fasteners 104H at the head trim 131 and thelong-term, removable fasteners 104F at the floor trim 130 are optional,and releasable adhesive can be used in their place. The studs 120 can beof any shape, dimension, or material. Various shapes, dimensions, andmaterials are readily known to those skilled in the art. When referringto the tab 111, it is any portion of the zip tape used to disengage thezip tape 110 from the panel 102. The panels 102 can be placed on eitheror both sides of the studs 120. The height of the wall system 100 can byvaried and there is no need for the wall system 100 to be full height.

The joint or seam 103A is required to be conditioned so as to be asmooth congruent surface 114A with the adjacent panels 102A. To form thesmooth congruent surface 114A, the seam 103A and long-term removablefasteners 104A are covered with the “zip” tape 110A and floated with mudcompound 112A. The “zip” tape 110A is sufficiently strong to be removedas a single piece, in unison. Further, the zip tape 110 can be ofvarying porosity depending on the application of the present invention.The “zip” tape 110A is removed as a single piece in unison by pulling atab 111A. As the tab 111A is pulled, the “zip” tape 110A and the mudcompound 112A disengage from the panels 202 thereby exposing the shortterm removable fasteners 104A. Once the short term removable fasteners104 are exposed, the fasteners 104A can be easily removed. Since shortterm removable fasteners 104A are covered by the zip tape 110A beforethe mud compound 112A is applied, the heads of the long-term permanentfasteners 104A are kept clean for easy engagement and removal. Also, the“zip” tape 110A is sufficiently unporous to prevent mud compound 112Afrom penetrating through the tape 110A to fill the heads of thefasteners 104A. As one skilled in the art can appreciate, the “zip” tape110A can be installed in various ways. The tab 111A is typically at theextremity of the zip tape 110A and normally under a removable trim atthe base 130 or under other trim such as removable crown trim at thehead or removable chair rail trim.

Another embodiment of the tab 111 of the zip tape 110 is to locate thezip tape 110 so that an “incision” can be made in the smooth sandedsurface 114 so as to form a tab 111. The incision can be made withoutdamage to the panel 102. The zip tape 110 can be pried up so as to forma tab (not shown) that can be pulled up so as to disengage the wholelength of the zip tape 110 together with the mud compound 112.

FIG. 1A is a plan view cross section of the seam 103A in FIG. 1illustrating the methodology in concealing and securing the seams 103Abetween panels 102 in a wall system 100. The panels 102 are abutted at aseam 103A. Thereafter, a zip tape 110A is applied over the seam 103A.Thereafter, finish mud 112A is applied or floated over the zip tape110A. Thus, anything under the zip tape 110A is accessible by removal ofthe zip tape 110A. The panels 102 are joined so that the seam 103Abetween the panels 102 is turned into a smooth surface 114A, and theabutting panels 102 form a single, continuous unitary panel 102, yetdemountable.

FIG. 1B is a flow chart describing the wall 100 of the present inventionas illustrated in FIG. 1. The flow chart describes the treatment of theseam 103A. FIG. 1B describes the wall 100 where the supports or studs120A, 120C are at the panel 102 edges. The seam 103A is treated to forma continuous, unitary panel 102 having a smooth surface 114A, yetdemountable.

FIG. 1C is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the wall system100 of the present invention using releasable adhesive 106 with thesupports or studs 120 at the panel edge 103 including an invisible seam114 and a bottom track 122.

FIG. 1D is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the wall system100 of the present invention with the supports or studs 120 at the paneledge 103 including an invisible seam 114.

FIG. 2: releasable adhesive is at intermediate stud or support. FIG. 2is an alternate embodiment of the wall system 200 of the presentinvention where the releasable adhesive 206B is used at the intermediatesupports or studs 220B. The wall system 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 hasthe primary elements of one or more panels 202, a plurality of long-termremovable fasteners 204, one or more studs 220, a “zip” tape 210, one ormore short-term removable fasteners 208, and a tab 211 associated withthe zip tape 210.

With respect to the structure of the wall 200 at the seam 203A, all thedescription of FIG. 1 is applicable for FIG. 2. The long-term removablefasteners 204H, 204F are typically used along the alternate perimetersto secure the upper and lower portion of the panels 202. Preferably, thepanels 202 are removably secured to the intermediate stud 220B using areleasable adhesive 206B. An option of the present invention is to omitthe intermediate stud 220B altogether. (See FIG. 1). To provide for theremovable, although affixed, securement of the panel 202 to theintermediate stud 220B, one or more short-term removable fasteners 208Bare used. After the removable adhesive 206B cures so as to secure thepanel 202 to the stud 220B, the short-term removable fasteners 208B canbe easily removed. To cover the holes left by the short-term removablefasteners 208B, a mud compound 213B is applied or “floated” over theholes and sanded to a smooth surface 214B. The short-term removablefasteners 208B are used to hold the panels 220 in place while thereleasable adhesive 206B cures. The short-term removable fasteners 208Bare fasteners that only remain in the wall system 200 during the timerequired for the releasable adhesive 206B to cure.

As described in FIG. 1, 1A, 1B and also described here for clarity thejoint or seam 203A is required to be conditioned so as to be a smoothcongruent surface 214A with the adjacent panels 202A. The joint or seam203A is required to be conditioned so as to be a smooth congruentsurface 214A with the adjacent panels 202A. To form the smooth congruentsurface 214A, the seam 203A, and long-term removable fasteners 204A arecovered with the “zip” tape 210A and floated with mud compound 212A. The“zip” tape 210A is sufficiently strong to be removed as a single piece,in unison. The zip” tape 210A is removed as a single piece in unison bypulling a tab 211A. As the tab 211A is pulled, the “zip” tape 210A andthe mud compound 212A disengage from the panels 202 thereby exposing theshort term removable fasteners 204A. Once the short term removablefasteners 204 are exposed, the fasteners 204A can be easily removed.Since short term removable fasteners 204A are covered by the zip tape210A before the mud compound 212A is applied, the heads of the long-termpermanent fasteners 204A are kept clean for easy engagement and removal.Also, the “zip” tape 210A is sufficiently unporous to prevent mudcompound 212A from penetrating through the tape 210A to fill the headsof the fasteners 204A. As one skilled in the art can appreciate, the“zip” tape 210A can be installed in various ways. The tab 211A istypically at the extremity of the zip tape 210A and normally under aremovable trim at the base 230 or under other trim such as removablecrown trim at the head or removable chair rail trim.

Another embodiment of the tab 211 of the zip tape 210 is to locate thezip tape 210 so that an “incision” can be made in the smooth sandedsurface 214 so as to form a tab 211. The incision can be made withoutdamage to the panel 202. The zip tape 210 can be pried up so as to forma tab (not shown) that can be pulled up so as to disengage the wholelength of the zip tape 210 together with the mud compound 212.

To form a smooth congruent surface, the seam 203A and removablefasteners 204A are covered with the zip tape 210A. The zip tape 210A issufficiently strong to be removed as a single piece, in unison. The ziptape 210A is removed as a single piece in unison by pulling the tab211A. As the tab 211A is pulled, the zip tape 210A, and the mud compound212A disengage from the panels 202 thereby exposing the short termremovable fasteners 204A. Once the short term removable fasteners 204are exposed, the fasteners 204A can be easily removed. The short termremovable fasteners 204A being covered by the zip tape 210A before themud compound 212A is applied keeps the heads of the fasteners 204A cleanfor easy engagement and removal. Also, the zip tape 210A is sufficientlyunporous to prevent mud compound 212A from penetrating through the tape210A to fill the heads of the fasteners 204A. The zip tape 210A can beinstalled in various ways.

FIG. 2A is illustrated in FIG. 1A and described here for clarity.

FIG. 2A is a plan view cross section of the seam 203A illustrated inFIG. 2 showing the methodology of securing the seams 203A between panels202 in a wall system 200. The panels 202 are abutted to form the seam203A. Thereafter, a zip tape 210A is applied over the seam 203A. Also,the zip tape 210A is applied over any long-term removable fastener 204Athat may be securing the panels 202. Thereafter, the finish mud 212A isapplied or floated over the zip tape 210A. The panels 202 are joined sothat the joint 203A between the panels 202 is transformed into a smoothsurface 214A, and the abutting panels 202 form a single, continuousunitary panel 202 having a smooth surface 214A, yet demountable. Afinishing mud compound 212A is placed over the zip tape 210 at allportions except for a tab 211A. The tab 211A is lifted away from thewall 200 for removing the zip tape 210A from the panels 202. Thus, thezip tape 210A can be accessed and pulled away removing the mud compound212A and exposing any long-term removable fasteners 204A.

The zip tape 210 used in practicing the present invention may be, forexample, a releasable, removable self-adhering fiberglass mesh tape thathas a mesh porosity such that the screw heads are not filled withcompound 212. Also, the present invention optionally provides that thescrews 204 are treated to prevent the compound 212 from adhering to thescrews 204. The screws 204 can be treated before being used or afterbeing installed. For example, treatment of the screws 204 before use maybe by applying a Teflon® coat to the screw heads, or making the outersurface of the screws 204 of a non-sticking substance, or by making theentire screw 204 from a non-sticking substance. Further by example,treatment of the screws 204 after use may be by applying a spray Teflon®coat to the screw heads, or coating the outer surface of the screws 204with a non-sticking substance. The non-sticking substance can be in anyappropriate form, such as, liquid, powder, etc. It can be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that various and sundry combinations of thescrews 204 and the non-sticking substances may be used depending on thesituation.

FIG. 2B is a flow chart describing the wall 200 of the present inventionas illustrated in FIG. 2. The flow chart illustrates the relationshipbetween the panels and supports or studs that are not at the paneledges. FIG. 2B describes the wall 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 where thesupports or studs 220A, 220C are not at the panel 202 edges.

FIG. 2C is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the wall system200 of the present invention using releasable adhesive 206 with thesupports or studs 220 at the panel edge 203 including an invisible seam214 and a bottom track 222.

FIG. 2D is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the wall system200 of the present invention with the supports or studs 220 at the paneledge 203 including an invisible seam 214.

FIG. 3: Zip tape at intermediate studs or supports. FIG. 3 illustratesyet another preferred embodiment of the wall system 300 of the presentinvention where zip tape is used at intermediate supports or studs 320B.The wall system 300 provides a system similar to the wall systems 100,200 in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the difference being that the panel 302 issecured to the intermediate stud 320B using long-term removablefasteners 304B in conjunction with the zip tape 310B. The wall system300 comprises the elements of the earlier discussed wall system 100including the seam-related parts: the panels 302, the end studs 320A,320C, the removable fasteners 304A, the zip tape 310A, the mud compound312A, the smooth sanded surface 314A, as well as theintermediate-panel-related parts: the long-term removable fasteners304B, the intermediate stud 320B, the zip tape 310B, the floated mudcompound 312B and the smooth sanded surface 314B. Also, the wall system300 uses a tab 311A, 311B which is at an extremity of the zip tape 310A,310B. While the end studs 320A, 320C are used to affix the panels 302 atthe seams 303, the intermediate stud 320B is used to affix to the panels302 between seams. The panels 302 are removably secured to theintermediate stud 320B using the removable fasteners 304B. The removablefasteners 304B are covered with the zip tape 310A. The zip tape 310B isprovided so that it is strong enough and unporous enough to protect theremovable fasteners 304B from being held inoperable due to the mudcompound 312B. The zip tape 310B is covered with or floated over withthe mud compound 312B. When the mud compound 312B dries, it can besanded. The mud compound 312B can be sanded to a smooth surface 314B.The smooth surface 314B hides the location of the removable fasteners304B.

With respect to the studs 320, typically at a remote end of each stud320 is a tab 311 of the zip tape 310. The tab 312 is provided so that itcan be pulled to disengage the mud compound 312 from the panel 302 suchthat the removable fasteners 304 are exposed and readily removed todisengage the panel 302 from the studs 320. Further, the zip tape 310removes the excess mud compound 312 from the panel 302 so that the panel302 is essentially pristine.

It can be appreciated that the tab 311 of the zip tape 310 can beutilized in different ways. A first utilization of the tab 311 of thezip tape 310 is to expose the tab 311 in an area that is not covered orfloated with mud compound 312. FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 illustrate atab 111, 211, 311 being located so as to be covered by the removablebase trim 330. The tab 311 can be readily accessed by removing theremovable base trim 330. Thereafter, the tab 311 can be lifted from thebottom of the panel 302 expose the removable fasteners 304 bydisengaging the mud compound 312 from the panels 302. The tab 311 can befound and pulled so as to disengage the whole length of zip tape 310which coincides with the dimension of the panel 302 and further removesthe mud covering 312.

As described in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and also described here for claritythe joint or seam 303A is required to be conditioned so as to be asmooth congruent surface 314A with the adjacent panels 302A. The jointor seam 303A is required to be conditioned so as to be a smoothcongruent surface 314A with the adjacent panels 302A. To form the smoothcongruent surface 314A, the seam 303A and long-term removable fasteners304A are covered with the zip tape 310A and floated with mud compound312A. The zip tape 310A is sufficiently strong to be removed as a singlepiece, in unison. The zip tape 310A is removed as a single piece inunison by pulling a tab 311A. As the tab 311A is pulled, the zip tape310A and the mud compound 312A disengage from the panels 302 therebyexposing the short term removable fasteners 304A. Once the short termremovable fasteners 304 are exposed, the fasteners 304A can be easilyremoved. Since short term removable fasteners 304A are covered by thezip tape 310A before the mud compound 312A is applied, the heads of thelong-term permanent fasteners 304A are kept clean for easy engagementand removal. Also, the zip tape 310A is sufficiently unporous to preventmud compound 312A from penetrating through the tape 310A to fill theheads of the fasteners 304A. As one skilled in the art can appreciate,the zip tape 310A can be installed in various ways. The tab 311A istypically at the extremity of the zip tape 310A and normally under aremovable trim at the base 330 or under other trim such as removablecrown trim at the head or removable chair rail trim. Another embodimentof the tab 311 of the zip tape 310 is to locate the zip tape 310 so thatan incision can be made in the smooth sanded surface 314 so as to form atab 311. The incision can be made without damage to the panel 302. Thezip tape 310 can be pried up so as to form a tab (not shown) that can bepulled up so as to disengage the whole length of the zip tape 310together with the mud compound 312. The wall system 300 is a fire ratedwall.

As In the other embodiments, the zip tape 310 used in practicing thepresent invention may be, for example, a releasable, removableself-adhering fiberglass mesh tape that has a mesh porosity such thatthe screw heads are not filled with compound 312. Also, the presentinvention optionally provides that the screws 304 are treated to preventthe compound 312 from adhering to the screws 304. The screws 304 can betreated before being used or after being installed. For example,treatment of the screws 304 before use may be by applying a Teflon® coatto the screw heads, or making the outer surface of the screws 304 of anon-sticking substance, or by making the entire screw 304 from anon-sticking substance. Further by example, treatment of the screws 304after use may be by applying a spray Teflon® coat to the screw heads, orcoating the outer surface of the screws 304 with a non-stickingsubstance. The non-sticking substance can be in any appropriate form,such as, liquid, powder, etc. It can be appreciated by those skilled inthe art that various and sundry combinations of the screws 304 and thenon-sticking substances may be used depending on the situation.

FIG. 3A is a plan view cross section of the seam 303 illustrated in FIG.3 showing the methodology of securing the seams 302 between panels 302in the wall system 300.

FIG. 3B is a flow chart describing the wall system 300 illustrated inFIG. 3 where the support or stud 320 is not at the panel 302 edges andthe panel 302 is secured at the extremities by long term fasteners 304(a fire rated wall). The panel 302 is secured by removable means 304.The zip tape 310 is applied over the removable means 304. The mud 312 isfloated over the zip tape 310 and then sanded smooth to form a smoothsurface 314.

FIG. 3C is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the wall system300 of the present invention using releasable adhesive 306 with thesupports or studs 320 at the panel edge 303 including an invisible seam314 and a bottom track 322. The wall system 300 is a fire rated wall.

FIG. 4: Removable substance at panel edge supports or studs to form aninvisible seam. FIG. 4 is an illustration of yet another wall system 400of the present invention. The wall system 400 uses panels 402, studs420, long-term removable fasteners 404, short-term removable fasteners408, and a removable substance 442. The panels 402 are abutted oneadjacent the other to form the seam 403. The panels 402 are held usingthe studs 420A, 420C, and optionally the stud 420B. Typically onalternate sides of the studs 420 are panels 402. The panels 402 aresecured to the stud 420A, which is aligned with the seam 403A by aplurality of long-term removable fasteners 404A and short-term removablefasteners 408B. Also, the panels 402 are optionally secured along theupper perimeter using by a plurality of removable fasteners 404H.Similarly, the panel 402 is optionally secured along the lower portionalong with the removable fasteners 404F. The panels 402 are typicallydisposed on alternate sides of a bottom track 422. The studs 420 rest inthe bottom track 422 such that the panels 402 are displaced one from theother an equal distance along the surface of the panels 402. Theremovable substance 442 is applied over the seam 403A and the removablefasteners 404A. As the removable substance 442 dries, it may shrink insize. If the removable substance 442 shrinks, additional layers may berequired. Thus, a first layer 442AA of the removable substance 442 isapplied, and allowed to cure. Thereafter, a second layer 442AB of theremovable substance 442 is applied, and allowed to dry. Thereafter, athird layer 442AC of the removable substance 442 is applied, and allowedto dry. The sequence is continued until such time as the entire gapformed by the seam 403A is filled so as to form a flush surface orconcave surface, if so desired. The removable substance 442 may be acomposition that can then be sanded to provide a smooth surface 414Awith the panel 402.

The intermediate stud 420B is affixed to the panels 402 using areleasable adhesive 406B. The panels 402 are secured to the intermediatestud 420B using the temporary short-term fasteners 408B. After thereleasable adhesive 406B secures the panels 402 to the intermediate stud420B, the temporary fasteners 408B are removed. The holes left by thetemporary short-term fasteners wall system 400 where the supports orstuds 420A, 420C are at the panel 402 edges. The seam 403A is treatedusing the removable substance 442 to form a continuous, unitary panel102 having a smooth surface 114A.

FIG. 4C is a flow chart of the wall system 400 of the present inventionas illustrated in FIG. 4 where the support or stud 420 is not at thepanel 402 edges. More particularly, FIG. 4C describes the wall system400 where the supports or studs 420A, 420C are intermediate of the panel402 edges.

FIG. 4D is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the wall system400 of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 4, but without theextensive bottom track 422. Alternately, a releasable adhesive 406 maybe used with the supports or studs 420 at the panel edge 403 in place ofthe long-term screws 404, but in conjunction with the short-term screws408.

FIG. 5: Releasable adhesive at panel edge supports or studs; Invisibleseam optional. FIG. 5 is yet another embodiment of a wall system 500 ofthe present invention where releasable adhesive 506A is used at thepanel edge supports or studs 520A. The wall system 500 includes thepanels 502, the studs 520, the long-term removable fasteners 504H, 504F,the short-term removable fasteners 508A, 508B, the releasable adhesive506, the float mud compound 516A, 513B or removable substance, and thebottom track 522. The bottom track 522 receives the studs 520. Thepanels 502 are typically placed on alternate sides of the studs 520 andthe bottom track 522. The panels 502 are removable secured to the studs520 using the releasable adhesive 506. The panels are allowed to engagethe releasable adhesive 506 and the studs 520 in a fixed manner by usingthe removable short-term fasteners 508. After the releasable adhesive506 cures, the removable short-term fasteners 508 can be removed.Thereafter, a float mud compound 516A, 513B or the removable substanceis used to fill the holes created by the removable short-term fasteners508. In the shown embodiment of the wall system 500 illustrated in FIG.5, the seam 503A is not filled or treated. Thus, the bevel 505A formedat the seam 503A between the two abutting panels 502 is left unchangedso as to provide a decorative linear effect. Also, the use of theremovable fasteners 504H at the top of the panel 502 and the removablefasteners 504F at the bottom of the panel 502 are optional.

FIG. 5A is a perspective, cross section of the seam 503A associated withthe two abutting panels 502 as illustrated in FIG. 5. The seam 503Aprovides that the bevel 505A yields a linear decorative effect. In analternate embodiment, there may also be a gap between the two panels502.

FIG. 5B is a flow chart of the wall system 500 of the present inventionas illustrated in FIG. 5 where the support or stud 520 is at the panel502 edges and the seam 503A is visible. More particularly, FIG. 5Bdescribes the wall system 500 where the supports or studs 520A, 520C areat the panel 502 edges. The seam 503A is not treated, but rather left toprovide a decorative linear wall design.

FIG. 5C is a flow chart of the wall system 500 of the present inventionas illustrated in FIG. 5 where the support or stud 520 is not at thepanel 502 edges. More particularly, FIG. 5C describes the wall system500 where the supports or studs 520A, 520C are intermediate of the panel502 edges.

FIG. 5D is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the wall system500 of the present invention using releasable adhesive 506 with thesupports or studs 520 at the panel edge 503 including an invisible seam514 and a bottom track 522.

FIG. 6: Vertical cross-section of the wall system. FIG. 6 illustrates across section of the wall system 600 of the present invention. FIG. 6illustrates a wall panel 602 removably engaged with a removable floor orbottom track 622 and a removable head track 623. The floor track 622 isremovably engaged with a subfloor 665. The wall panels 602 have at oneextreme a removable base trim 630 and at the other extreme a removablehead trim 631. The removable base trim 630 and the removable head trim631 typically cover the removable long-term fasteners 604. The removablelong-term fasteners 604 removably engage the wall panels 602 and thestud 620 with the floor track 622 and the head track 623. When the wallpanels 602 and the studs 620 are secured, one or more cavity 660 iscreated between the opposing wall panels 602, the studs 620 the toptrack 623 and the bottom track 622, respectively. The base trim 630 andthe subfloor 665 are removably engaged. A floor finish or carpet 666 istypical. The removable top track 623 is typically engaged with a Tsupport 661. The T support 661 is suspended in place by a hanger orsupport cable 662. The T support 661 is provided for accepting aplurality of ceiling tiles 663. When the ceiling tiles 663 are engagedwith the T support 661, a space 664 is created between the ceiling tiles663 and the head track 662. Preferably, the head trim 631 abuts theceiling tile 663. A data channel 622A is provided in the floor track622.

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart for a method of assembling a paneling system.The method includes fastening one or more panels on a support systemwith one or more mechanical fasteners, applying a tape to substantiallycover the one or more mechanical fasteners, placing a layer of compoundover the tape, permitting the compound to cure, and then, removing thetape from the paneling system in a manner that sufficiently exposes theone or more mechanical fasteners.

FIG. 8: Top Track. FIG. 8 is a partial cutaway of an upper portion ofthe wall system 800 of the present invention. Illustrated in FIG. 8 is ahead track 823 in association with the wall panels 802. The wall panels802 are removably affixed to the head track 823 using removablelong-term fasteners 804H. The long-term removable fasteners 804H areoptional and may be used or not. The removable head trim 831 istypically used to cover the removable long-term fasteners 804, althoughzip tape may be used in lieu of head trim.

FIG. 9: Bottom track. FIG. 9 is a partial section illustrating a lowerportion of the wall system 900 of the present invention. FIG. 9illustrates a removable bottom track 922 in association with the wallpanels 902. The wall panels 902 are removably secured to the removablebottom track 922 and a stud 920 using the removable long-term fasteners904F. Also, a releasable adhesive 906 maybe used to secure the wallpanel 902 with the stud 920. The removable long-term fasteners 904F aretypically covered using the removable base trim 930, and zip tape may beused in lieu of base trim 930. A floor finish 966 is typically usedadjacent the removable base trim 930.

FIG. 10: Alternate bottom track. FIG. 10 illustrates yet anotherembodiment of a wall system 1000 of the present invention, showing apartial cross-section of a wall panel 1002 in association with aremovable bottom track 1022. The wall panel 1002 is typically secured tothe removable bottom track 1022 using the removable long-term fasteners1004F. Similarly as discussed above, a removable base trim 1030 is usedto cover the removable long-term fastener 1004F. A floor finish 1066 istypically used adjacent the removable base trim 1030. The bottom track1022 is removably affixed to the subfloor using various methods; and forthe present invention the bottom track 1022 can be secured using thereleasable adhesive 1006. Also, the bottom track 1022 can be affixed toa subfloor using a removable fastener or knockoff fasteners 1024.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a tri-channel head track 1123 for use inassociation with the wall system of the present invention. Thetri-channel head track 1123 provides for accepting wall panels 1102A,1102B on alternate sides of a stud 1120. The wall panels 1102 aresecured to the stud 1120 and the tri-channel head track 1123 usingremovable long-term fasteners 1104. The tri-channel head track 1123 hasa plurality of channels, with the embodiment illustrated having threechannels 1123A, 1123B, 1123C. The outermost channels 1123A, 1123B aredisposed on alternate sides of the middle channel 1123C. The removablelong-term fasteners 1104 can be treated as described herein in otherembodiments of the present invention. For example, the removablelong-term fasteners 1104 can be taped and floated, covered withcaulking, etc.

FIG. 11A is a cut-away illustration of the tri-channel head track 1123for use in association with the wall system 1100 of the presentinvention as illustrated in FIG. 11 having an unfeathered extension1123D and a releasable adhesive 1106.

FIG. 11B is an illustration of the tri-channel head track 1123 for usein association with the wall system 1100 of the present invention asillustrated In FIG. 11 having a feathered extension 1123D and areleasable adhesive 1106.

FIG. 12 is a sectional illustration of a tri-channel bottom track 1222used in association with the wall system of the present invention. Thetri-channel bottom track 1222 has two protrusions 1222D on its uppersurface 1222E such that the stud 1204 is accepted into the channel 1222Fformed by the two protrusions 1222D in the bottom track 1222. The wallpanels 1202A, 1202B are accepted on the outer portion on the uppersurface 1222E of the bottom track 1222. The tri-channel bottom track1222 has knockouts 1222B and an isolated data cavity 1222A. Further, thetri-channel bottom track 1222 has a roughened surface 1222C in which areleasable adhesive can be used to secure the tri-channel bottom track1222 to a floor or subfloor. Typically, a knock-off 1224 is used toremovable secure the track 1222.

FIG. 12A is a sectional illustration of a tri-channel bottom track 1222used in association with the wall system of the present invention havingan enclosed data channel 1222A and using removable adhesive 1206.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a quad-channel bottom track 1322 usedwith the wall system of the present invention. The quad-channel bottomtrack 1322 comprises an isolated data cavity 1322A, knockouts 1322B,beveled edges 1322D in association with the upper channels, and aroughened surface 1322C. The roughened surface 1322C is used toremovably secure the quad-channel bottom track 1322 to a floor orsubfloor. The isolated data channel 1322A is used in association withthe knockouts 1322B to pull wiring and cable for data, phones, orlights. The three open channels are used for accepting a stud 1320 inthe middle channel, and for accepting wall panels 1302 in the outermostchannels. Optionally, the quad-channel bottom track 1322 can be securedto the wall panels 1302 using long term removable fasteners 1304. Asstill a further option, the long term removable fasteners 1304 can becovered with a zip tape 1310 and a mud compound 1316 so that they can belater accessed for easy disassembly of the wall panels 1320 and thequad-channel bottom track 1322. Also a cover plate 1322BB is removablyengaged in selected punch outs 1322B. The cover plates 1322BB can be ofvarious shapes, sizes, and affixed in various ways, for example, snapon, glue on, screw on, etc.

FIG. 13A is a sectional illustration of a tri-channel bottom track 1322used in association with the wall system of the present invention havingan enclosed data channel 1322A and using removable adhesive 1306

FIG. 14 is yet another embodiment of the tri-channel bottom track 1422for use with the wall system of the present invention. The tri-channelbottom track 1422 comprises a bottom track 1422A, one or more knockouts1422B, and a roughened surface 1422C. The bottom track 1422A, preferablyreceives a stud 1420. The stud 1420 has one or more knockouts 1420A. Thecombination of the stud knockouts 1420A and the track knockouts 1422Bprovide for easy access of wires and cables within a stud cavity 1460between two wall panels 1420A, 1420B. Also a cover plate 1422BB isremovably engaged in selected punch outs 1422B. The cover plates 1422BBcan be of various shapes, sizes, and affixed in various ways, forexample, snap on, glue on, screw on, etc. Typically, a knock-off 1424 isused to removably secure the track 1422.

FIG. 14A is a sectional illustration of a tri-channel bottom track 1422used in association with the wall system of the present invention havingan enclosed data channel 1422A and using removable adhesive 1406.

FIG. 15 is a sectional illustration of another tri-channel bottom track1522 used in association with the wall system of the present inventionhaving an enclosed data channel 1522A.

FIG. 15A is a sectional illustration of the tri-channel bottom track1522 used in association with the wall system of the present inventionhaving an enclosed data channel as illustrated in FIG. 15 and having anunfeathered extension 1522D and releasable adhesive 1506.

FIG. 15B is a sectional illustration of the tri-channel bottom trackused in association with the wall system of the present invention havingan enclosed data channel as illustrated in FIG. 15 and having afeathered extension 1522D and a releasable adhesive 1506 and a slotteddata channel 1522A.

FIG. 16 is yet another embodiment of the tri-channel bottom track 1622for use with the wall system of the present invention having a slotteddata channel 1622A for receiving the studs 1620. The tri-channel bottomtrack 1622 is adapted for use with load-bearing walls.

FIG. 16A is a sectional illustration of another tri-channel bottom track1622 used in association with the wall system of the present inventionhaving a slotted data channel 1622 as illustrated in FIG. 16 and havingan unfeathered extension 1622D and a releasable adhesive 1606.

FIG. 17 illustrates a cross section of a wall system 1700 of the presentinvention with a wall panel 1702 removably engaged with a removableelectrical fixture 1762 and a plumbing fixture 1764.

FIG. 18 is a sectional illustration of a tri-channel bottom track 1822used in association with the wall system of the present invention havingelements that are of bendable metal.

FIG. 19 is a sectional illustration of another embodiment of atri-channel bottom track 1922 used in association with the wall systemof the present invention having elements that are bendable metal.

FIG. 20 is a sectional illustration of yet another embodiment of atri-channel bottom track 2022 used in association with the wall systemof the present invention having elements that are bendable metal.

FIG. 21A is a sectional illustration of another channeled bottom track2122 used in association with the wall system of the present inventionhaving a data channel 2122A. The bottom track 2122 has flush base trim2130 with a raised channel seat for accepting the stud 2120. As in theother embodiments, the base trim 2130 is affixed to the bottom track2122, but not the panel 2102, for easy removal. As with the otherembodiments of the present invention, treated screws 2104F may be used.

FIG. 21AA is a sectional illustration of another channeled bottom track2122 used in association with the wall system of the present inventionhaving a data channel 2122A. The bottom track 2122 has flush base trim2130 with a raised channel seat for accepting the stud 2120. As in theother embodiments, the base trim 2130 is affixed to the bottom track2122, but not the panel 2102, for easy removal. As with the otherembodiments of the present invention, treated screws 2104F may be used.

FIG. 21AAA is a sectional illustration of yet another channeled bottomtrack 2122 used in association with the wall system of the presentinvention having a data channel 2122A. The bottom track 2122 has flushbase trim 2130 with a raised channel seat for accepting the stud 2120.As in the other embodiments, the base trim 2130 is affixed to the bottomtrack 2122, but not the panel 2102, for easy removal. As with the otherembodiments of the present invention, treated screws 2104F may be used.

FIG. 21B is a sectional illustration of another channeled bottom track2122 used in association with a load-bearing wall system of the presentinvention having a data channel 2122A. The bottom track 2122 has flushbase trim 2130 with a raised channel seat for accepting the stud 2120.As in the other embodiments, the base trim 2130 is affixed to the bottomtrack 2122, but not the panel 2102, for easy removal. As with the otherembodiments of the present invention, treated screws 2104F may be used.

FIG. 22A is a sectional illustration of another channeled bottom track2222 used in association with a wall system of the present inventionhaving a data channel 2222A. The bottom track 2222 has flush base trim2230 with a raised channel seat for accepting the stud 2220. As in theother embodiments, the base trim 2230 is affixed to the bottom track2222, but not the panel 2202, for easy removal. As with the otherembodiments of the present invention, treated screws 2204F may be used.

FIG. 22AA is a sectional illustration of an alternate embodiment of theone piece base track with a raised channel-seat for the stud.

FIG. 22B is a sectional illustration of another channeled bottom track2222 used in association with a wall system of the present inventionhaving a data channel 2222A. The bottom track 2222 has flush base trim2230 with a raised channel seat for accepting the stud 2220. As in theother embodiments, the base trim 2230 is affixed to the bottom track2222, but not the panel bottom track 2122 has flush base trim 2130 witha raised channel seat for accepting the stud 2120. As in the otherembodiments, the base trim 2130 is affixed to the bottom track 2122, butnot the panel 2102, for easy removal. As with the other embodiments ofthe present invention, treated screws 2104F may be used.

FIG. 21B is a sectional illustration of another channeled bottom track2122 used in association with a load-bearing wall system of the presentinvention having a data channel 2122A. The bottom track 2122 has flushbase trim 2130 with a raised channel seat for accepting the stud 2120.As in the other embodiments, the base trim 2130 is affixed to the bottomtrack 2122, but not the panel 2102, for easy removal. As with the otherembodiments of the present invention, treated screws 2104F may be used.

FIG. 22A is a sectional illustration of another channeled bottom track2222 used in association with a wall system of the present inventionhaving a data channel 2222A. The bottom track 2222 has flush base trim2230 with a raised channel seat for accepting the stud 2220. As in theother embodiments, the base trim 2230 is affixed to the bottom track2222, but not the panel 2202, for easy removal. As with the otherembodiments of the present invention, treated screws 2204F may be used.

FIG. 22B is a sectional illustration of another channeled bottom track2222 used in association with a wall system of the present inventionhaving a data channel 2222A. The bottom track 2222 has flush base trim2230 with a raised channel seat for accepting the stud 2220. As in theother embodiments, the base trim 2230 is affixed to the bottom track2222, but not the panel.

While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention,other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised withoutdeparting from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof isdetermined by the claims that follow.

1. A method of assembling and disassembling a paneling system,comprising: fastening two panels in an abutting fashion on a supportelement with one or more fasteners to create a joint; applying a tapeover at least one of the one or more fasteners; placing a layer ofcompound over the tape while leaving a portion of the tape uncovered bythe compound; permitting the compound to fully cure; and pulling theportion in order to substantially remove the tape from the fasteners. 2.The method of claim 1, further including covering the portion with amaterial other than compound.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein thematerial is a baseboard.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the materialis a crown mold.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprisingdisengaging the one or more fasteners from the paneling system.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising disengaging the panels by removingthem from the engaged fasteners.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the one or more fasteners is an adhesive.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the one or more fasteners has a non-stick head tofacilitate removal of compound from the fasteners.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein an additional support element is located distal fromthe joint, wherein the additional support element is secured to one ofthe panels by an adhesive.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the tapeis an adhesive tape and is applied in a manner whereby the tape adheresto the one or more fasteners.
 11. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising placing the panels on a track.
 12. The method of claim 1,wherein the tape is removed as a single piece.
 13. A method of handlinga paneling system, comprising: fastening two panels in an abuttingfashion on a support element with one or more fasteners to create ajoint; applying a tape over at least one of the one or more fasteners;placing a layer of compound over the tape while leaving a portion of thetape uncovered by the compound, wherein the uncovered portion has anadhesive section; and permitting the compound to fully cure.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, further comprising pulling on the uncovered portionto lift the tape from the two panels.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein the pulling on the uncovered portion also exposes at least oneof the one or more fasteners.